Money & Career

The 3 most common résumé mistakes

Money & Career

The 3 most common résumé mistakes

Whether you knew it or not, if you're looking for a job, you're already employed. What do I mean? Welcome to the world of sales. Even if you haven't worked a day in months or are currently employed by Greenpeace, you need to get comfortable with the idea of selling your skills, talents, and expertise in the marketplace if you want to land a job in the next 50 years. As we stated earlier, selling yourself isn't about becoming fake or phony, but let's acknowledge the fact that in most cases, the phone isn't ringing off the hook with job offers for you. If you want the phone to ring, you've got to make others aware of how you can contribute to the success of their organizations. And, friends, that's sales, 100 per cent.

The solution? Clarity. When you give too much information about you, your professional history, your future career goals, or anything else for that matter, you run the risk of confusing people. As much as we'd like to think people read what we write (she writes, hopefully) and listen to what we say, chances are, they don't. People are busy and time is limited. Your job is to be direct, clear, and get to the point -- fast.

Excerpted from Work 101 by Elizabeth Freedman. Copyright 2007 by Elizabeth Freedman. Excerpted by permission of Delta, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

The solution? Position your resume and cover letter, each and every time you send them out. I'm not suggesting you reinvent the wheel or create an entirely new set of materials for every job that's out there. Instead, look carefully at the job description before you click send and make sure that your information truly reflects the needs of the employer and how you can best contribute to those needs. Yes, this is extra effort, but it's not always easy to get a foot in a door and a shot at your dream job. Make the most of every opportunity and take the extra time to really customize your marketing materials -- it may make the difference between an interview for you or someone else.

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Excerpted from Work 101 by Elizabeth Freedman. Copyright 2007 by Elizabeth Freedman. Excerpted by permission of Delta, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

Ritzy business
Draw attention to your peepers with rich and regal smoky purples. Swapping out sooty black for vivid lilacs instantly softens a smoky eye. And, if you're looking to bling it on—after all, it is the holidays—press micronized glitter over top or look for a purple shadow with major sparkle. Earrings, swarovksi.com.

The clash
One of the golden rules of makeup is never to pair a dramatic eye with an equally bold lip. We say, phooey! Sometimes, you need to break the rules to achieve true greatness. Take a risk and swipe shimmering emerald-green shadow onto lids, then pair with an audacious juicy red lip. When two striking beauty elements are equally intense, the effect is sophisticated—never garish. Faux-fur stole, $100, lechateau.com. Earrings, winners.ca.

Lost in space
When it comes to nail art, simple touches can make the biggest impact. Instead of applying an intricate design, try a negative-space manicure. A polish-free V-shape surrounded by sapphire-coloured lacquer elongates nails while adding a smidgen of edginess and elegance. Balmain for H&M dress, $179, hm.com/ca. Crisscross ring, baublebar.com. Ring, swarovski.com.

Choose the best-quality bread. Never serve end slices. Freezing bread before cutting and then spreading makes for easier handling.

Bread should be lightly buttered no matter what the filling. Butter should be at room temperature before spreading. Sandwiches will not become limp and soggy as readily if you spread butter right to edge of bread.

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